TELECOM Digest     Tue, 23 Aug 2005 00:29:00 EDT    Volume 24 : Issue 381

Inside This Issue:                             Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Debate Over Cell Phone Towers Growing (Jim Salter)
    Earthlink Acquires Anti-Spyware Company Aluria (Reuters NewsWire)
    Norvergence ... Update on Its Owners' Problems (Danny Burstein)
    Re: Local Exchange Not Local in Sylva, NC (Fred Atkinson)
    Re: Broadband Competition Must Surely be Working (jmeissen@aracnet.com)
    Re: An Exciting Weekend With a Sneak Thief (Devils PGD)

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----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Jim Salter <ap@telecom-digest.org> 
Subject: Debate Over Cell Phone Towers Growing
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 17:05:34 -0500


By JIM SALTER, AP Business Writer

After two years of boisterous meetings and litigation, the 150-member
Southampton Presbyterian Church surrounded by closely-spaced red-brick
homes is at odds with its neighbors over an issue that has nothing to
do with theology.

T-Mobile plans to construct a cell phone antenna along the chimney of
the two-story, 89-year-old white-stone building. In return, the
company will pay rent to the church.

"That revenue is in exchange for our potential well-being, our peace
of mind and our property values," said David O'Brien, 33, who lives
two homes down and remains unconvinced by studies downplaying the
health threat of low-level radio-frequency emissions.

"None of us are willing to take that risk," O'Brien said. "None of us
are going to put our kids in a bedroom that's 70 feet away from
something that might cause cancer or other problems."

In years past, cell towers and antennas stood anonymously in farm
fields, on remote hilltops, on water towers. As cell phone use
continues to grow, companies must find new places to keep up with
demand -- including residential areas like the South Hampton
neighborhood.

Ten years ago, the U.S. had 24 million cell phone subscribers, said
Joe Farren, a spokesman for CTIA-The Wireless Association, the trade
group for the industry. Today, more than 190 million cell phones are
in use.

To keep up, cell "sites" -- towers and antennas mostly -- have
increased tenfold - from fewer than 18,000 in 1994 to more than
175,000 now.  Without additional towers, calls are lost and reception
suffers.

"Our companies are always running into this conundrum, which is, 'We
want cell phone service, but don't put that tower here,'" Farren said.
"When you're dealing with communications through the air, you have to
have antennas and towers."

To meet demand, companies are increasingly turning to nontraditional
sites -- fire houses, churches, schools, even cemeteries and national
parks. A cell tower now sits near Yellowstone's Old Faithful, despite
strong opposition.

Opposition is just as strong in residential areas. Washington attorney
Ed Donohue, who represents several cell phone companies, estimated
that more than 500 cases have been heard nationwide involving efforts
to stop cell phone towers and antennas. In most cases, the cell phone
companies have won.

That's in part because federal law eliminates one of the key arguments
against cell sites -- the health factor.

No studies have shown conclusive evidence that radio-frequency
emissions are harmful at levels allowed by the Federal Communications
Commission.  As a result, the law prohibits rejection of a tower based
on health risk.

Yet fear of the uncertainty remains. A year ago, the International
Association of Fire Fighters opposed the use of fire houses for cell
sites "until a study with the highest scientific merit" proves they
are safe.

The American Cancer Society's Web site says that because the
technology is still relatively new, "we do not yet have full
information on health effects." However, the organization noted there
was no known evidence of a link between low-level emissions and
cancer.

Still, the perception of a health risk, combined with what some
consider an eyesore, can lower property values for those living near a
cell site, O'Brien said.

Cell sites can be a financial boon to those who provide space for
them.  Cell companies won't discuss rent, but Donohue said companies
typically pay $800 to $2,000 per month, depending on location, the
size of the tower or antenna, and other factors. That can be a
significant amount for a struggling school district or a church with
stagnant or declining membership.

Residents of St. Louis' South Hampton neighborhood first learned of
Southampton Presbyterian's plan to rent space to T-Mobile in 2003. 
Immediately, they mobilized against it. A petition opposing the cell
antenna was signed by more than 250 people.

When talks failed, residents turned to zoning officials who ruled
against T-Mobile. The city's Board of Adjustment agreed, ruling the
antenna could have "a negative impact on the health of children and
residents" and would cause property values to decrease.

T-Mobile sued. U.S. Magistrate Judge Frederick Buckles ruled in favor
of the company in July.

Debbie Barrett, a spokeswoman for suburban Seattle-based T-Mobile,
said the company is doing everything it can to make the site blend
in. But she said the antenna is needed.

"We have a responsibility not only to our customers but to the public
agencies that benefit from our 911 service," Barrett said.

Southampton's pastor, Will Mason, said the antenna will not extend
beyond the top of the chimney, will sit flush against in, will even be
painted the same shade of white as the chimney. Neither he nor
T-Mobile would disclose the rental fee.

Mason said he spent months studying health effects of cell sites, the
impact on property values. He believes the antenna is harmless.

"It wasn't all that kindly to be demonized, but we're over it," Mason
said. "We've tried to work with the neighborhood association and the
folks opposed to the antenna."

Still, O'Brien said neighbors feel betrayed. Parishioners on Sunday
morning used to be met with a smile and a wave from neighbors. Now, he
said, they're met with angry glares.

"Almost every one of my neighbors says they're going to move if this
thing goes up," O'Brien said.


On the Net:

T-Mobile: http://www.t-mobile.com

CTIA-The Wireless Association: http://www.ctia.org

American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The
information contained in the AP News report may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written
authority of The Associated Press.

NOTE: For more telecom/internet/networking/computer news from the
daily media, check out our feature 'Telecom Digest Extra' each day at
http://telecom-digest.org/td-extra/more-news.html . Hundreds of new
articles daily. Go to
http://telecom-digest.org/trd-extra/newstoday.html for more AP news.

------------------------------

From: Reuters News Wire <reuters@telecom-digest.org>
Subject: Earthlink Acquires Anti-Spyware Company Aluria
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 17:06:06 -0500


U.S. Internet service provider EarthLink Inc. on Monday said it agreed
to acquire the assets of privately held Aluria Software LLC, which
makes security and anti-spyware software.

EarthLink said it expects the acquisitions, whose terms were not
disclosed, to close in September.

Aluria, which was founded in 1999 and based in Orlando, Florida, is
best known for its consumer anti-spyware application called Spyware
Eliminator. The product has more than 20 million users, Atlanta-based
EarthLink said in a statement.

Recently, Aluria launched its first business-targeted application,
Paladin, which provides anti-spyware protection for small businesses
and corporations. The company also sells a number of other security
and system optimization applications.

EarthLink counted 5.4 million Internet subscribers at the end of June.


Copyright 2005 Reuters Limited. 

NOTE: For more telecom/internet/networking/computer news from the
daily media, check out our feature 'Telecom Digest Extra' each day at
http://telecom-digest.org/td-extra/more-news.html . Hundreds of new
articles daily.

------------------------------

From: Danny Burstein <dannyb@panix.com>
Subject: Norvergence ... Update on Its Owners' Problems
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 20:21:29 -0400
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and UNIX, NYC


( article is a month old. Just saw it )

Former NorVergence Chief's New Venture Falls Just As Hard

Jul. 24 - A year ago Thomas N. Salzano stood at the helm of
NorVergence, a multimillion-dollar telecommunications company on the
brink of a spectacular flameout.

Three weeks ago, Salzano scuffled with police after he was
unceremoniously booted from his Kenilworth (NJ) office that housed
Charity Snack, his latest venture, for non-payment of rent.

On the surface, the companies couldn't have less in common:
NorVergence was a reseller of phone service with hundreds of millions
of dollars of leases; Charity Snack raised money for breast cancer by
putting cardboard boxes in nail salons. But the similarities were
striking.

Both companies relied on a high-powered sales force working from a
script; employees described draconian work rules including docking pay
for minor infractions; and when the business soured, some employees
say they weren't paid what was owed to them.

And both companies fell hard ...

And federal agents are still scrutinizing the byzantine finances of
NorVergence and its principals.
 ...

Interviews with former employees reveal that Thomas Salzano has
started at least three new companies in the past year, one called
Retail America Inc. and another called Certa Clean Inc.
 ...

The company's sales staff placed an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 (Charity 
Snack) boxes in nail salons, auto-repair shops and other walk-in 
businesses throughout New Jersey, according to former employees. By April, 
the business was growing fast, bringing in as much as $20,000 a week in 
cash, the employees said.
    ...

(After the landlord locked him out), Salzano returned and smashed through 
the plate glass door of the office using a hammer ...

About four hours later, police returned to find Salzano sitting behind
his desk. He was arrested and charged with criminal mischief, a
misdemeanor to which he later pleaded not guilty, according to the
Kenilworth police.

 	rest at (watch for line wrap ):

http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyOSZmZ2JlbDdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5NjcyODc5MCZ5cmlyeTdmNzE3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTI=

------------------------------

From: Fred Atkinson <fatkinson@mishmash.com>
Subject: Re: Local Exchange Not Local in Sylva, NC
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 21:01:47 -0400


Fred Atkinson wrote:

> What difference should it make if the number is "local"?

It means they should only have to dial seven digits.

> Some of my co-workers live across the street and walk to work.  Some
> live in a different state and have a 90 minute commute.  I think every
> workplace is like that.

True, but you have to understand the culture of the area I'm in to
fully get the picture.

> So, in order to call people at home, in some cases they will have to
> use long distance.

I'm not even sure they showed it as a valid long distance exchange, to
tell you the truth.  I didn't try it.

> Anyway, today corporate long distance is so cheap why is that even a
> problem?

It is a problem when you have folks who are constantly watching the
amount of long distance calls being made.  Unfortunately, we *are* in
that position.

> Years ago when toll rates were expensive, PBX extensions had a
> three-tier option:  1) interal PBX calls only (most common, esp on
> phones anyone could use), 2) outside local calls only (low level
> supervisors, secretaries), 3) all calls (big bosses).

How very true.

> Frankly, I don't see what's changed.  If a manager needs to call you,
> he probably has long distance access already.  It's pretty hard to
> conduct business today without long distance.

Well, a number of my colleagues and others I interact with at work might
need to reach me as well.

> The other issue raised here is keeping switching equipment up-to-date
> with new exchanges.  This has been an ongoing problem for years since
> the explosion of area codes and new exchanges.  I believe official
> bulletins are issued describing new exchanges and where they're
> located.  (In the old days the Bell System handled this automatically
> internally).  Any organization with a PBX that has internal tables
> must subscribe or contract with someone who subscribes to these
> bulletins and keep the internal tables updated.  What happens if a
> valued customer gets a new phone number and you can't reach them?

I've encountered such problems.  I was in a position years back where
I had units that called in to report alarms to an 800 number we had
set up for that purpose.  I had to know when dialing plans changed so
I could manage the units.  If an area code changed and I didn't get
the word, I couldn't call it up and monitor it.

I tried to find a mailing list that put out announcements about new
area codes and exchanges.  That was when I was introduced to Telecom
Digest, by the way.

We used MCI for all of our long distance.  We had an account rep at
MCI that was supposed to let me know when new area codes sprang up or
when dialing plans changed.  Unfortunately, I often got the word from
other sources after the changes had been made.  So, I didn't rely on
her and had to actively seek out information about area code
splits/overlays/dialing plan changes.

But back to the original discussion, I'm happy to report that the
Telecom guy called me today and told me he had it fixed.  I called my
home number from the office and this time it went through.

>> I recently moved to Sylva, NC to work in nearby Cullowhee, NC (it's
>> about a fifteen minute drive (tops) between the two places).

>> Our local calling area is between three small cities, Sylva,
>> Cullowhee, and Cashiers.  Anything outside that zone is long distance
>> for us.

>> I acquired Voicepulse VOIP service when I moved here.  They offered
>> Sylva and Cashiers, NC telephone exchanges.  I got a Sylva number on
>> the 534 exchange.  It's been working fine.

>> Today, I tried to dial into my home number from work so I could
>> check my voicemail.  I dialed 9 and then 53 and got no farther.  It
>> retuned a busy signal.  We tried it from several different phones
>> and got the same results.  I called the telecom guys and told them
>> of this dilemma.  Despite the fact that I had explained about it
>> being from a VOIP provider, he asked me several times if it was a
>> Verizon exchange.  I told him no, it wasn't.  It was a special
>> services exchange in the Sylva, NC area.

>> He told me he couldn't get it added to the switch without going
>> through a bunch of hoops (a number of people had to sign off on it).
>> I couldn't believe it.  All he should have to do is call their
>> provider and confirm that it is a local exchange.

> Your place of work has a PBX.  Your home exchange is not known to the
> 'dialing plan' for that switch.

Yes, I know that.  I used to program Rolm PBX and Voicemail systems.

> "Company policy" has a problem, regarding handling exchanges assigned
> to CLECs.

> This is not an issue that _you_ need to fight.  See to it that your
> *boss* has your home phone number, for 'emergency' use.

My boss hasn't got time to fight such things.  He expects us to handle
such things on our own, which I successfully did, by the way.

> Make sure said boss knows that you _cannot_ be reached via a 'company'
> phone due to a 'programming problem' in the company's switch.

Yes, I did that.  And I subsequently notified him today when the
problem was corrected.

>> Meantime, my colleagues cannot call me at home (from work) when a need
>> arises.

> Isn't that a SHAME!  <*grin*>

Not if you look at the big picture, which I'm not going to go into here.

> You cannot be disturbed on your non-work time, because the company you
> work for won't let other employees call and bother you.

I beg to differ with you.

> Some people would _pay_extra_ for that kind of an arrangement!  :)

> I know I would!  Sign me up!

You can have it.  But, I don't want to be in that position at the
moment.  It could very much affect me adversely.

However, as I mentioned, it was resolved earlier today.


Regards,

Fred

------------------------------

From: jmeissen@aracnet.com
Subject: Re: Broadband Competition Must Surely be Working
Date: 22 Aug 2005 20:45:39 GMT
Organization: http://extra.newsguy.com


In article <telecom24.373.5@telecom-digest.org>, Gene S. Berkowitz
<first.last@comcast.net> wrote:

> Verizon also REQUIRES that you use THEIR router after the fiber modem.

So now we're back to the scenario where you can only attach phone
company equipment to their lines. Didn't we already fight this battle,
about 30 years ago?


John Meissen             jmeissen@aracnet.com


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: But in those days (1960's) the telco
was a _regulated entity_ and it still is. But for newer things like
ISP and Internet service, those features are mostly _unregulated_
and telco is permitted to do as they please or require whatever they
want on their _unregulated_ stuff.   PAT]

------------------------------

From: DevilsPGD <spamsucks@crazyhat.net>
Subject: Re: An Exciting Weekend With a Sneak Thief
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 21:51:01 -0600
Organization: Disorganized


In message <telecom24.380.11@telecom-digest.org> J Kelly
<jkelly@*newsguy.com> wrote:

> The problem with checks is that all I need is your routing and account
> number, and guess what?  Those are printed on every one of your checks
> in plain human readable numerals.  I can print up new checks on my
> computer with any ID on them I want, and your account number.  I can
> start passing them around town same as your sneak thief.  And guess
> what?  I can easily get a fake ID to match the ID of the person I put
> on the check.  Checks are terribly insecure.

You also need a signature, at least if you want the money to come from
my account.

Now you obviously don't care if a merchant gets screwed since you've
long since run off with the goods, but for the consumer, it's not as
bad as the above makes it sound.

------------------------------


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End of TELECOM Digest V24 #381
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